How much force must be applied to a toy car that has
a mass of .25kg to achieve an acceleration of
2.4m/s2?

Step 1:
Write down the formula needed to solve
the problem.

f = ma

Step 2:
Place the known
measurements into the
formula.

Known
: The mass of the car is
.25kg and the acceleration of the
car is 2.4m/s2.

f = (.25kg) (2.4m/s2)

Step 3:
Enter the numbers into
your calculator and solve.

f = .6N A force of .6N must be
applied to the toy car.

Make sure that all of your numbers in the equation have a SI unit
and make sure you label your answer with the correct SI unit for
force (N).

Now you can practice some problems on your own.

Force Practice Problems

You will need to show all work set up in the equation. Don't forget
to label all numbers!

PROBLEMS:

1. If a 4500 kg car is traveling westward with an acceleration of 35.2 m/s2,
what is the force acting on it?

2. I am a roller skater with a mass of 72kg. If I am accelerating toward a
wall at 3.7m/s2, what will be the amount of force at which I hit the wall?

3. A dock worker needs to stop a box of goods that is rolling across a
manual conveyer belt. The box has a mass of 8.35kg and is accelerating at
.75m/s2. How much force will he need to apply to the box in order to stop
it?

4. How much force must be applied to move a 55kg ice skater to an
acceleration of 12.5m/s2?